Earl "Jackie" Johnson

On Monday, December 1, 2025, Mr. Earl "Jackie" Johnson, became our ancestor. Born on December 3, 1947, in Valdosta, Georgia, to Ada Bell Johnson and George McCain, he carried the warmth of his Southern roots in every heartbeat and interaction.
In his youth, Jackie earned the nickname "Jackie" in honor of the legendary Jackie Robinson. His love for western films, especially the timeless show featuring Roy Rogers, gifted him another playful alias, "Gabby." These early experiences were the first threads woven into the rich tapestry of his life.
Graduating from Pineville High School in 1966, Jackie became the football trainer, a position from which he guided his school to its State Championship. This monumental achievement fostered bonds with classmates that would become the vibrant fabric of brotherly and sisterly love.
Jackie's journey led him north, yet the Army drafted him and he returned back to Valdosta, Georgia. His service, nearly cost him his life. After returning home honorably on October 4, 1967, he resettled in Connecticut, where he would evolve into a genuine trunk of love-a provider, protector, role model, and hero. Jackie was a man of few words, yet his actions spoke volumes, resonating with intention and meaning.
In the grand narrative of his life, love took center stage when he met Catherine "Cat" Terry. Their union blossomed into a magnificent trunk of love, giving rise to branches of family that included their cherished children, Jarvis, Tamika, and LaKesha, and later, grandchildren: Kaliyah, Eric, and Kayla. Jackie's devotion extended beyond bloodlines; he embraced all family and friends within his nurturing branches, creating a sprawling network inspired with affection.
His professional journey spanned 50 years at the Research Center of Pratt & Whitney. Colleagues were not merely coworkers; they were brothers and sisters woven into his life's fabric. Each connection he fostered transformed the workplace into a family, where bonds grew deeper despite the physical separations of their respective roles.
Jackie found solace and joy in sports, passionately cheering on his beloved Redskins-now the Commanders-and the Yankees. Horse betting added an element of excitement to his life, conjuring up memories.
He joins his beloved parents, wife (Catherine Terry-Johnson), siblings: Nettie R. Harris, Horace Duke, Martha Johnson, Thayla Johnson, and Teresa "Diane" Johnson in a place of everlasting peace. Though they preceded him, their bond remains unbroken.
Jackie's spirit will thrive through his children: Jarvis, Tamika, and LaKesha; grandchildren: Kaliyah Sturges, Eric Townsend, and Kayla Terry; brother Marvin Johnson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, devoted friend, James Cushion, who stood by his side as a true brother from another mother, complementing the tapestry of connections in Jackie's extraordinary life.
Remembered as a man with deep Georgia roots, Jackie transformed into a trunk of love that watered, nurtured, and cultivated the sprawling branches of his family and friends. His legacy is a living tapestry, intertwined and connected by the vibrant strands of love he shared throughout his life-an exquisite reflection of unconditional, generational love.
A man of honor, respect, strength, and action, we find solace in knowing he reunites with Cat, forever cherished in our hearts as we celebrate a life well-lived.